Free Island for Dreams by Katrina Britt Page A

sleeves combined with the smell of coffee, the poor man could jump to any conclusions. We ought to have asked him in for a cup. ’
    ‘ Not on your life, ’ he retorted with some emphasis. ‘ What, and have the man making a habit of it? ’
    The last remark gave Nora food for thought. Five minutes ago Juan was suggesting they have a mock affair; now he was taking over as if it was a real one. In all fairness she had to admit that he had done the right thing where she herself was concerned. He had pressed the point unknowingly that a girl did better with a man around to protect her.
    She would have felt more unsettled had it been Jony, because there would have been an ulterior motive in the suggestion coming from him. He had a lot to gain if he could turn the affair between them into the real thing, with a wedding ring.
    She asked, ‘ Another coffee? ’
    ‘ I don ’ t mind, ’ answered Juan, dropping back into his chair.
    Nora passed his coffee and poured another for herself to give her something to do. The white silk shirt he was wearing contrasted attractively with his tanned skin and dark crisp hair. There was an attractive aura about him that would persist even when he was ninety, she thought wryly.
    ‘ Your way of life must be very pleasant when it gives you the time to be knight errant to ladies in distress, ’ she said sweetly.
    He laughed, amused at her sudden wary expression. ‘ I don ’ t make a habit of it. I ’ m enjoying my present role of helping Aim é e. ’
    ‘ Only Aim é e? ’ she asked.
    He raised an eyebrow. ‘ And Tricia, if you like. ’
    ‘ And me? ’
    He sipped his coffee, then surveyed her lazily. ‘ You aren ’ t in need of much help. You have a delightful flat, a car, a share in a bequest—a generous one—and a good promising career. ’
    Piqued with something more than just disappointment, she snapped, ‘ Thanks !’
    Juan gave the slow smile which always played on her heartstrings. ‘ I might add that you ’ ve been richly endowed with nature ’ s decorations too—but I won ’ t enlarge on your charms. I ’ m sure you ’ re aware of them. ’
    Her face went scarlet. ‘ You can be a very aggravating man, do you know that, or do you delight in needling people? ’
    ‘ It keeps the adrenalin going, ’ he scoffed. ‘ I ’ d like to bet Jony ’ s gets working when he sees us together. ’
    She picked up his trend of thought immediately. ‘ You mean because you ’ re a Manxman he might think...? ’
    ‘ Exactly. That he stands to lose half the income on the estate if we marry. ’
    ‘ Oh dear, I never thought of that! There ’ s something else too. If ... if someone made an attack on me because of the will won ’ t ... they try it again now that there ’ s a real threat to Jony inheriting the lot? ’ she said, aghast.
    ‘ I wouldn ’ t worry about that if I were you. I shall be around most of the time and the porter seems a nice dependable sort. You ’ re not scared, are you? ’ He emptied his coffee and leaned forward to take her hand. Nora had put down her coffee cup with trembling fingers, and he had noticed it. His tone softened.
    ‘ Look, there ’ s nothing to be scared of. I think I know who dropped the plastic purse and it ’ s someone who won ’ t bother you again. I ’ m saying no more; you must take my word for it. Will you trust me? ’
    Nora ’ s fingers curled around his, anxious for their reassuring warmth.
    ‘ I ’ ll have to, won ’ t I? I ’ ve no other option, ’ she told him flatly.
    The attractive smile was on his dark face again. ‘ You won ’ t feel so bad when you know me better. Come on, smile! ’
    That ’ s the trouble, she thought. Knowing you better will bring other problems. She walked to the door with his arm resting carelessly around her shoulders. His right arm was crooked to carry the jacket on his shoulder.
    ‘ Pick you up at two, ’ she said.
    Juan was on time; so was Nora. Aimée was seated in the front